Creative ZxR

Do you remember the old days when computers were only capable of rudimentary beeps and boops? Communicating their various errors to the user in a language reminiscent of a stripped down, barely functioning R2-D2 droid? If you can remember that, you can also remember how, to get any other sort of sound out of your machine, you needed a dedicated soundcard that plugged into your motherboard. While motherboards with integrated soundcards have been a thing for a while now, it is still possible to add dedicated soundcards to your rig.

Creative’s ZxR is one such soundcard. Sitting at the crossroad between high-end consumer, and professional audio engineering equipment, it comes equipped with top level components and DACs (digital-to-analog-converters), and an SNR of 124db that ensures the sound it puts out is never anything short of stellar. Capable of rendering the sound at 24bits 192kHz, or sending the sound directly from the source to the speaker with no further modifications (such as Windows might apply), it can ensure the sound comes out as pristine as possible. As an added bonus, with standard RCA Aux in as well as optical in, it is also capable of studio quality recording.

While this is admittedly overkill for all but the most ardent user and content creators, it also comes with a plethora of features geared towards gamers. The most prominent of these is its array of built-in EQ settings for specific types of games and acoustic spaces, as well as Creative’s own technology which lets it boost muddy frequencies, render voices more cleanly and clearly, and basically help compensate for less than stellar audio recordings, speakers and headphones. Onboard processing means it can do all this with minimal stress to your CPU.

Another nice touch, which I’ve found myself appreciating recently, is the control module. This small device not only contains a highly directional microphone (which, when turned on, can clearly hear you if you sit it behind your keyboard), but also a volume control, and both 3.5 and 6.3 mm ports for headphones and microphones. Simply plug your headphones in (making sure you’ve selected the correct Ohm rating first), and then all you have to do to toggle between those and your speaker system, is to flip a switch on Creative’s control panel. (No more having to unplug your headphones. Yay!)

If high-quality sound is your thing and you want to add professional-grade equipment to your gaming rig (whether for content creation or driving your snazzy home-theatre), then this is a card that can definitely be recommended. ■